An international marine researcher and passionate advocate for female leadership in science has been named Tasmania's Australian of the Year.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Hobart woman Jess Melbourne-Thomas was on Friday announced as the state's overall winner at a ceremony by the governor of Tasmania at Government House.
The 38-year-old Rhodes Scholar, who grew up and studied in Tasmania, has worked with the Australian Antarctic Division and is currently employed with CSIRO Oceans & Atmosphere.
She will represent the island state at the 60th national Australia Day awards in January.
Her research has focused on how underwater ecosystems respond to climate change and other human impacts.
Dr Melbourne-Thomas co-founded the Homeward Bound project which in 2016 took 78 female scientists to Antarctica.
She also co-founded the Women in Polar Science network, which has more than 4000 members worldwide.
In other state awards, 74-year-old Landcare activist Dr Graeme Stevenson was named Tasmania's Senior Australian of the Year for his work over the past 30 years promoting healthy soils in the state.
Police officer and social justice advocate Will Smith, 26, from Launceston, won Tasmania's Young Australian of the Year, while 38-year-old Thomas Windsor received the Local Hero award for his work raising awareness and fundraising for men's health issues, including depression and prostate cancer.
Australian Associated Press
